Convicted killer Ruffolo free on bail pending appeal

A woman convicted for the first-degree murder of her husband was released on $100,000 bail Friday.

Ruby Ann Ruffolo, convicted last November for the drugging death of her 36-year-old husband John Ruffolo, was released awaiting appeal of her mandatory sentence, life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The body of John Ruffolo was found near Humpback Road in Langford about 1.5 km from the Humpback reservoir on Oct. 25, 2003 – a week after he had last been seen. His vehicle was found at the Knockanback Grill on Wilkinson Road, about 1.5 kilometres away from the Ruffolo’s Tulip Avenue home.

An autopsy determined he died of a lethal dose of heroin and amitriptyline, an antidepressant.

During the trial, which had been dogged by delays and a mistrial since Ruffolo was initially arrested in March 2004, Crown counsel argued Ruffolo used the two drugs to kill her husband after failed attempts to hire someone to do it.

Ruffolo’s bail conditions set by the B.C. Court of Appeal in Vancouver include a curfew from 7 p.m. – 5 a.m.

The appeal must be heard before Dec. 16, one year after Ruffolo filed her appeal.

editor@saanichnews.com

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